Every name has a meaning behind it. That meaning is more than just Cameron meaning "crooked nose" or Rachel being Hebrew for "female sheep." The real life meaning of names must be looked at. Maybe Cameron sounds too pretentious, or too creative, or too wimpy. Is Rachel an old classic or is it such a classic name that it no longer carries any modern symbolism? With the options for names being limitless and the sources for finding those names are also endless, it's no wonder that this can be such a difficult choice for parents.

A place parents might look at it are the classical names. These names are solid, dependable, trend-resistant, and classy without being flashy. This may include looking back at their own families, which is becoming a big trend in baby-naming. Looking at past kings and queens, heiresses and presidents can also help with selecting these sorts of classical names. Some of these names include: Grace, Elizabeth, Olivia, Charles, Edward, and Thomas. While these names seem like they will always be prevalent, the problem is that they may become overused due to their familiarity and wide appeal. Even if the name becomes very popular, however, these names will always signify a sense of royalty, upper class, and dignity.

Naming a child after a place has become a very popular trend as well. Many celebrities have started doing this and anything the celebrities are doing usually catches on. But this can be more than just a trend or doing something that is "hot" at that time. Naming your child after a place can be filled with meaning. The child can be named after the place where their grandparents or parents were born, or where the parents honeymooned. Anywhere that holds a special place in the hearts of the parents could be a truly great name that is filled with its own special meaning!

It can't be overlooked that the child's name is the first thing people are going to know about them and based on that, people will already form judgements and preconceptions about what to expect from a person with that name. Of course the child's personality and presence will be the determining factors in other people's perceptions of them but it can't be ignored that a name conjures unconscious expectations.

One type of name that is sure to have preconceptions attached to them are power names. There are also different types of power names. One type are the intellectual power names. These names portray someone who is intelligent, serious, and studious. Some of these include names such as: Catherine, Judith, Theodore, and Nelson. Another type of power name is the creative power name. These names are often unusual, exotic, sometimes foreign-sounding and sometimes associated with an artistic figure. Some of these names include: Bianca, Felicity, Adrian, and Cody. Then there are names that portray a physical power - high energy names. These names make one think of a person that is constantly in motion and full of spirit. Some of these names include: Casey, Peggy, Bailey, and Jeremy. None of these names, or types of names, mean that a child's personality will match up to the type of name. A little girl named Casey could be very shy and quiet or a boy named Adrian may be better with math and numbers than he is with language and art. These are only the images that come to mind with these types of names and certainly don't mean that naming a child along those lines will guarantee that's what they will be like.

Then there are the names that don't portray any specific image. A name like James could make one think of a smooth, sophisticated persona such as James Bond. Or it could make one think of a sullenly symbol such as James Dean. These names tend to be used over a long period of time with parents drawing on such things such as religion, class, or ethnicity to determine the name. These types of names can be especially freeing for parents who don't want their child's name to carry on preconceptions or specific images.

Some parents choose to turn to their religious backgrounds to determine their child's name. But even with these traditional names, there are trends that emerge. Twenty years ago it was common to name a child a Biblical name such as Sarah, Ruth, Aaron, or Adam. Today, the trend in Biblical names is to lean towards the more modern sounding names that still carry a strong religious meaning. These names include: Abigial, Eve, Elijah, and Jonah.

Everyone is going to have an opinion, with a mix of good and bad, about the name you have chosen for your child. This can make you rethink that name you have always loved or the name that after countless discussions, you and your spouse have finally agreed on. This should in no way influence your decision, although it's hard to not let it be some kind of factor. After all, if someone tells you that Luke was their grandfather's name and he was a drunk, you certainly don't want to think of that every time you think of your child's name. For this reason, some people don't tell the name of their child until the child is born, when it would be less polite for anyone to point out imperfections with it.

There's also the fact that both you and your spouse need to completely love the name before you adorn your child with it. This can be more difficult than it seems. As much in common as you thought you had before a child was coming, it can become quickly evident that the two of you have in fact, very different opinions about what is appropriate and what you will both love.

The answer when naming your child is that there is no simple answer. It's no wonder that parents can become so quickly frustrated. It's important to remember though that whatever name is finally chosen, it will be perfect for both the child and the parent. No matter how it was thought of, and no matter what other people think of it.